GET READY
A great lawn starts with the prep work. By preparing your site correctly you will ensure the best start for your new lawn.
Preparing Your Turf
Site preparing before laying your lawn is crucial. How you prepare the area
and install your turf will determine the quality of the final product.
If you are a home handyman and wanting to install your own lawn you can follow
our guide to help you from start to finish.
Clear The Area
Remove the weeds either by hand or spray with a glyphosate herbicide (e.g. Roundup). If couch grass or kikuyu is present, add a group B herbicide such as Brassoff. Wait until the weeds die (approximately seven to ten days). Respray residual weeds again if necessary. Remove all debris including any small rocks and twigs. If removing an existing lawn and replacing with a new variety, consider hiring a turf cutter for large areas, alternatively use a sharp spade to remove the existing grass.
Cultivate The Area
Use a rotary hoe (available for hire) to cultivate the entire area. Alternatively, you can dig it over thoroughly with a garden fork to a depth of about 150mm. Remove any rocks, stones or sticks as you dig. Add Dolomite Lime to correct soil pH. If you are applying gypsum (to treat a clay soil), this is the stage to do it.
Incorporate a Good Quality Top Soil
Incorporate a sandy loam underlay soil, spreading to a depth of 100-150mm, depending on your site soil. You will need to order 1m³ of top soil for every 10m² of turf area if you are putting it at 100mm depth. If organic compost such as manure is used, ensure it is well composted. Level off soil with a rake and then firm by watering. Ensure finished turf sits 75mm below weep holes.
Order The Turf
Measure up the area, marking the dimensions on a sketch of the area. If necessary, use the StrathAyr turf calculator to calculate the turf required. Order online or by phoning our sales office on 1800 622 455.
Apply Lawn Starter
Prior to installation of your turf, apply a pre-plant (starter) lawn fertiliser at the recommended rate, using a fertiliser spreader to ensure even distribution. We provide lawn starter free of charge with any turf purchased in Victoria (not available in Tasmania).
Tip: This will give your lawn sufficient nutrients for the first 4-6 weeks.
Lay The Turf
Turf is cut fresh at our turf farm and delivered to you within 24 hours. Lay turf immediately once you receive it to avoid any drying out and overheating. Lay the turf in a brick work pattern.
Tip: Start from a straight edge such as driveway or paving. Lay the turf in a brick work pattern, ensuring the edges fit snugly together.
Fold turf slabs when moving them to avoid damage. Alternatively, use a wheelbarrow to move the slabs to your desired area.
Calculate your lawn area
Calculating the area of lawn you need is simple. Even if your lawn is a complex shape, you can break it down into easy to calculate shapes.
Sketch out your lawn, then break the areas in to shapes like the image in the right.
Use a measuring tape to work out the dimensions of your shapes, then add the measurements in our handy calculator.
Calculate your lawn area
Side 1
m2
Side 2
m2
Width
m2
Side 1
m2
Side 2
m2
Calculate your lawn area
